HS2 Construction Updates - Birmingham Area

[Snow1964]

New drone video of the area around Watling Street and A5.

Looks like the major bridge construction is continuing on dual carriageway with both roads temporarily slewed. But consistent with other works on Hansacre spur the work on smaller road bridge seems to be paused.

Of course no point in building a bridge if it doesn't get used, or route is blocked because next bridge isn't built, which highlights the farce of current part built approach. But clearly what was already contracted is going ahead.

 

[hwl]

New drone video of the area around Watling Street and A5.

Looks like the major bridge construction is continuing on dual carriageway with both roads temporarily slewed. But consistent with other works on Hansacre spur the work on smaller road bridge seems to be paused.

Of course no point in building a bridge if it doesn't get used, or route is blocked because next bridge isn't built, which highlights the farce of current part built approach. But clearly what was already contracted is going ahead.

Given prioritisation of Washwood Heath to north of Wendover for the test track and limited spending envelope, less activity outside Washwood Heath to north of Wendover, Curzon Street to Washwood Heath and OOC to Wendover is hardly surprising but working on about 20% bridges North of the Delta Junctions at any one time seems sensible as this would minimise level of road disruption unlike some other area where most bridge works in an area have been in progresses at once.

Focusing on the bigger jobs early is also sensible as many of the others should be substantially quicker to complete.

 

[Snow1964]

A new drone video 12 December, of Curzon Street station, with lots of progress on pile capping, and concrete and rebar foundations.

The foundations for the 7 platforms and tracks are now becoming more obvious as they are being completed in rows across the width of the station.

Lots of zoom in on areas of work to show the detail.

The bridge over Lawley Middleway that was pushed into position few months back has now been extended at the country end (steelwork is lighter rusty colour).

 

[Tobberz]

Looking forward to all the weird little craft beer bars and pizza places which will inevitably spring up in the old railway arches by Curzon Street

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

A new drone video 12 December, of Curzon Street station, with lots of progress on pile capping, and concrete and rebar foundations.

The foundations for the 7 platforms and tracks are now becoming more obvious as they are being completed in rows across the width of the station.

Lots of zoom in on areas of work to show the detail.

The bridge over Lawley Middleway that was pushed into position few months back has now been extended at the country end (steelwork is lighter rusty colour).

Starting to come together but station is behind the progressed realised on old Oak Common in the same elapsed time.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Starting to come together but station is behind the progressed realised on old Oak Common in the same elapsed time.

I read somewhere else that it had started after OOC because it was a simpler design so should be quicker to finish

 

[chris2]

New video of delta junction progress. Whilst structures across all three sides are in evidence, there's a clear prioritisation of the Curzon spur over the others, which is in line with the reset plan to get Washwood Heath -> Wendover done first for testing. The Coleshill segmental viaducts are nearly there - looks about 3 spans to go - and the dive under structure is going up quickly. There's now a largely complete embankment over to the M42 link viaducts and beyond that the Attleboro flyover structure before the Bromford tunnel entrance is progressing well and you can clearly see the formation for the different lines.

At the northern end, the Water Orton segmental viaducts are ready and waiting to race over the railway during the upcoming Christmas closure (from 23/12 for 5 days). Once over the line, the run of piers appears complete and ready for the viaducts to progress to completion. The locations for the final piers on the motorway are now cleared and I would imagine the piers will emerge in the coming months. The motorway spans will be built off-line on a truss and moved by SPMT into position during a full closure of the road during summer 2026.

Once the Coleshill viaducts are done, the two kits building these will be transferred up to the Northern end to build the final two viaducts. At this point, what will remain will be further individual structures to complete the main North-South line and earthworks and landscaping. But all of this only needed for when services open to the North, so rightly aren't being prioritised for now.

All the facts in the above summarised from information in this article.

https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/brum-bridge-bonanza

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Starting to come together but station is behind the progressed realised on old Oak Common in the same elapsed time.

I'm not sure if it's even behind on it's schedule, I know going vertical isn't until 2026, and clearly piling is either complete or nearing completion.

It's on a completely different timetable. They aren't remotely similar in design or works required. OOC is on the critical path due to being on an active railway area and can become operational for other lines before HS2 is ready.

 

[Snow1964]

Been sent a photo that tarmac has been laid this week on the new Aston Church Road viaduct. The summer newsletter said road would open early December (so guessing it has slipped slightly)

The Local newsletter from last year also indicated it would take 14 months starting October 2024) to demolish the old viaduct over the tracks that is in the way of HS2. Maybe it will be demolished by end of December. A footpath across it currently remains open pending new bridge opening.

The northern curve spurs of Delta viaduct are currently upto where they need to cross a railway line, and these sections of viaduct are expected during a Christmas break.

Apparently the Curzon Street number 2 viaduct (the huge arched bridge) is now ready to be moved over the railway. Haven't seen a date for installation (it was originally supposed to move during rail line closure in the summer but wasn't ready as its contractors had a lack of welders.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I'm not sure if it's even behind on it's schedule, I know going vertical isn't until 2026, and clearly piling is either complete or nearing completion.

It's on a completely different timetable. They aren't remotely similar in design or works required. OOC is on the critical path due to being on an active railway area and can become operational for other lines before HS2 is ready.

Fair enough they have more latitude at Curzon St vs operational railway constraints but were both needed at the same time in the original plan for HS2 and contractors were appointed on similar timelines.

 

[Snow1964]

A new drone video has been uploaded showing progress on all 3 sides of the delta junction and the grade separated junctions under construction.

Slightly further south can see a bridge over M6 which was slid into its final position this weekend. A second parallel bridge is due to be built alongside it. HS2 has issued a time lapse video of this

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

A new drone video has been uploaded showing progress on all 3 sides of the delta junction and the grade separated junctions under construction.

A great drone video extraordinary the range you can get away from an operator position. I know its more involved than the Colne Valley viaduct but progress seems slower than one would expect given they can work on multiple fronts easily here.

Slightly further south can see a bridge over M6 which was slid into its final position this weekend. A second parallel bridge is due to be built alongside it. HS2 has issued a time lapse video of this

 

[Snow1964]

A great drone video extraordinary the range you can get away from an operator position. I know its more involved than the Colne Valley viaduct but progress seems slower than one would expect given they can work on multiple fronts easily here.

At first glance the video makes the whole area look rather a muddy mess.
But actually if you look, work has been going on in multiple areas but there are gaps at the moment.

A detailed look shows the southern viaducts are almost complete (and parapets are progressing), and once done the assembly gantries can be moved to the remaining north viaducts. Virtually all the piers for the viaducts have been built (and that includes the associated foundations for the piers). There are rows of viaduct segments ready to be installed so these have been fabricated.

The northern spur viaducts have not progressed forward for about a month, they are waiting to cross the live railway (which has a few days closure next week), and at normal progress rates will reach the motorway by mid 2026. The motorway bridges are expected to be assembled and moved on self propelled multi wheel transporters in summer 2026.

The junction flyovers are progressing well and by the spring should be structurally complete. That will allow embankments to be built up that lead to them.

Culverts and river diversions have generally happened. Virtually all the roads are diverted which allows the road bridges to be completed, and once the bridges are finished and roads can move to final locations the remaining earthworks can happen.

Of course building up the embankments means the big stockpiles of earth get reduced to final profile where they can be topsoiled and landscaped.

I don't know the exact timetable, but I could easily see both north and south Birmingham spurs completed by this time next year, just ahead of Christmas.

However it does look like the earthworks on the 4track main line near Gilson might take longer, and there is a lot of site demobilisation and subsequent landscaping in that area too. So my guess is will be nearer end 2027 in that area.

 

[Geogregor]

There is no need to worry for the northern parts of the delta junction, they won't be needed for a long time.

I suspect they are correctly concentrating on bits which are needed for the initial testing stretch of the HS2, which will have to provide access between Washwood Heath and the main trunk of the HS2.

 

[Snow1964]

There is no need to worry for the northern parts of the delta junction, they won't be needed for a long time.

I suspect they are correctly concentrating on bits which are needed for the initial testing stretch of the HS2, which will have to provide access between Washwood Heath and the main trunk of the HS2.

Yes and no, might not be any services or testing early on, but got to complete the track laying and wiring to a point well clear of where high speed trains will be operating. At least far enough so next installation train starting work towards Hansacre is clear of junction.

I think the temporary boundary of active work vs on hold seems to be near Faraday Avenue, where a temporary slew of road has be built and opened but the construction of the bridge over normal road alignment hasn't started.

 

[Snow1964]

A new drone video from end of Bromford tunnel to Curzon Street.

Shows the ramp (concrete trench) from tunnel which appears to widen to 3 tracks. Alongside is site of Washwood Heath depot (doesn't appear to be any depot construction so far)

Video continues where bits of trackbed look complete, but other parts are not yet levelled. The piers and partly built viaducts into Curzon Street are also visible

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

A new drone video from end of Bromford tunnel to Curzon Street.

Shows the ramp (concrete trench) from tunnel which appears to widen to 3 tracks. Alongside is site of Washwood Heath depot (doesn't appear to be any depot construction so far)

Video continues where bits of trackbed look complete, but other parts are not yet levelled. The piers and partly built viaducts into Curzon Street are also visible

Excellent drone video first one of seen that follows the complete approach into Curzon St. Not sure why it has to be in that trench seems to be unnecessary costs given its adjacent to existing lines and hardly in a housing are.

 

[Bald Rick]

Excellent drone video first one of seen that follows the complete approach into Curzon St. Not sure why it has to be in that trench seems to be unnecessary costs given its adjacent to existing lines and hardly in a housing are.

The trench at the start of the video? That’s the ramp up from the bromford tunnels.

 

[swt_passenger]

A new drone video from end of Bromford tunnel to Curzon Street.

Shows the ramp (concrete trench) from tunnel which appears to widen to 3 tracks. Alongside is site of Washwood Heath depot (doesn't appear to be any depot construction so far)

The southern track of 3 is one of the depot reception lines, presumably to allow depot access/egress for trains not terminating or starting at Curzon St.

I see it‘s mentioned on the drawings that some of the walls that can be seen are for flood defence, I suppose there’s a risk from the River Tame?

 

[hwl]

Excellent drone video first one of seen that follows the complete approach into Curzon St. Not sure why it has to be in that trench seems to be unnecessary costs given its adjacent to existing lines and hardly in a housing are.

Which bit of trench?
The first bit before 1m40s is the climb from the tunnel section
The second bit from ~2m05s is because the track bed HS2 is being on part built the alignment of a Rea (partially diverted in concrete culver to the left of the HS2 track in the video) so the geology will be atrocious hence ground slab with piles underneath and some flood protection. The alignment here also goes over the former reservoir for the Saltley shed. The ground stability will be shocking.
The third bit west of the canal is the start of the inclined section but alignment width is limited width hence back filled concrete box rather than embankment for the first few metres of height rise above ground level before it transitions to viaduct.

 

[Snow1964]

New video, the two Water Orton viaducts forming the north west side of Delta junction have been extended over the railway during Christmas period

Video is released by HS2, and is partly Timelapse and partly drone, and some CGI projections of it in use

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The timelapse of the viaduct sections going in is mightily impressive.

 

[vic-rijrode]

New video, the two Water Orton viaducts forming the north west side of Delta junction have been extended over the railway during Christmas period

Video is released by HS2, and is partly Timelapse and partly drone, and some CGI projections of it in use

Incredible. To a layman those segments that form the viaduct look gravity defying. How are they fixed to each other. I have visions of giant bolts...

Perhaps someone far more knowledgeable than me can elucidate!

 

[swt_passenger]

Incredible. To a layman those segments that form the viaduct look gravity defying. How are they fixed to each other. I have visions of giant bolts...

Perhaps someone far more knowledgeable than me can elucidate!

‘Glued’ and the mating faces have a sort of serrated face, then post-tensioning cables, (cables running through the insides), that are tightened up after installation. On these viaduct sections the segments are also held up temporarily by all those external ‘stay cables’ you can see that link back to the previously completed section. They‘re very like a modern cable stayed bridge at that point in the overall procedure.

(I think there are some interior photos showing the tensioning cables in the thread about the Colne Valley viaduct, I’ll try and find them.)

Alternatively there’s a video linked from this post:

HS2 Colne Valley Viaduct construction updates

lovely view of the viaduct. looks like one of those maglev bridges you find in futuristic sci-fi films. Looks really good View of the Colne Valley Viaduct from Denham Water Sky Club . https://www.instagram.com/p/C0zCcNXPV4i/?img_index=1

www.railforums.co.uk

that explains at about 20 minutes in how the segments are attached.

 

[vic-rijrode]

‘Glued’ and the mating faces have a sort of serrated face, then post-tensioning cables, (cables running through the insides), that are tightened up after installation. On these viaduct sections the segments are also held up temporarily by all those external ‘stay cables’ you can see that link back to the previously completed section. They‘re very like a modern cable stayed bridge at that point in the overall procedure.

(I think there are some interior photos showing the tensioning cables in the thread about the Colne Valley viaduct, I’ll try and find them.)

Alternatively there’s a video linked from this post:

HS2 Colne Valley Viaduct construction updates

lovely view of the viaduct. looks like one of those maglev bridges you find in futuristic sci-fi films. Looks really good View of the Colne Valley Viaduct from Denham Water Sky Club . https://www.instagram.com/p/C0zCcNXPV4i/?img_index=1

www.railforums.co.uk

that explains at about 20 minutes in how the segments are attached.

Excellent, thank you!

 

[absolutelymilk]

Not Birmingham specific but not sure it deserves its own thread - it looks like the HS2 "In your area" map has had an update - it now shows every individual section with its own name, e.g. Offchurch Cutting which is 2,095m long.

Is this a new feature or have I just not gone on it for a while?

 

[PLY2AYS]

Not Birmingham specific but not sure it deserves its own thread - it looks like the HS2 "In your area" map has had an update - it now shows every individual section with its own name, e.g. Offchurch Cutting which is 2,095m long.

Is this a new feature or have I just not gone on it for a while?

It’s certainly new to me…

Although they have Copthall classed as a cutting and not a tunnel.
Unsure of any other inaccuracies, but on the whole is pretty informative!

 

[swt_passenger]

It’s certainly new to me…

Although they have Copthall classed as a cutting and not a tunnel.
Unsure of any other inaccuracies, but on the whole is pretty informative!

The earliest DfT maps did show Copthall was originally designed as a cutting, but it was altered to a green tunnel some years ago, so I’d agree it’s surprising they’ve not caught up with the change.

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 is holding an information event in Streethay (near Lichfield) later this month, which suggests works are about to happen on this section north of delta junction works

Come and visit our HS2 Information Van at Streethay Co-Op Car Park to find out more about the upcoming A38 works in your area.
Come and visit our HS2 Information Van at Streethay Co-op Car Park on Tuesday, 27 January, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, to find out more about the upcoming A38 works in your area. Our team will be available to answer your questions and share the latest updates.
We are working in partnership with National Highways, and the information van will be operated by them and feature their official branding.

HS2 Information Event - Streethay Co-Op Car Park

Come and visit our HS2 Information Van at Streethay Co-Op Car Park to find out more about the upcoming A38 works in your area.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

 

[swt_passenger]

HS2 is holding an information event in Streethay (near Lichfield) later this month, which suggests works are about to happen on this section north of delta junction works

Isn’t this more likely to be just the reinstatement of the A38 onto its original alignment? I think that’s really the only ‘A38 work’, (as mentioned in the quoted text), that’s outstanding in the Streethay area.